Machine for printing on cylindrical articles



Oct. 18, 1966 E. SMITH ETAL MACHINE FOR PRINTING 0N CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 13, 1965 mm wmm mm Q mmm INVENTORS EDWIN K. SMITH JOHN D. ALEXANDER CLINTON F. BRUNDAGE ROBERT FOSTER AJLMMM ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1966 E. K. SMITH ETAL MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 13, 1965 INVENTORS EDWIN K. SMITH JOHN D. ALEXANDER CLINTON F. BRUNDAGE ROBERT FOSTER ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1966 E. K. SMITH ETAL MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 15, 1965 a M R MM K HNNR TA S T RM S OSL O .A F E DWT VN TR N N E WHI DOLO EJCR M B ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1966 E. K. SMITH ETAL MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 13, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 4,

m HMNR T W WH mom M F v N K NT 92 mm. ENDmR wwmmw mom m2 looLo 0Q EJCR VI m 8 02 21 RN m9 2Q mo. w: 3m 9 w h. 0 o 0 27 1 m NS @N mm. mm. 0 o mww l 2 ma lliflrlIilll \HLT II N L v mm.

v: m: N NE ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1966 E. K. SMITH ETAL MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 13, 1965 INVENTORS EDWlN K. SMITH JOHN D. ALEXANDER CLINTON F. BRUNDAGE ROBERT FOSTER hvm ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1966 E. K. SMITH ETAL 3,279,360

MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CYLINDRIGAL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 15, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 an m m FIG.|3

INVENTORS EDWIN K. SMITH JOHN D. ALEXANDER CLINTON F. BRUNDAGE ROBERT FOSTER ailmmw ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1966 E. K. SMITH ETAL MACHINE FOR PRINTING 0N CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 15. 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 5 mnhom T NE w E mt V2 m2 mm. \L

.8 ll mmm 1 m5 v A mm mmw I I mwm i m w mm mmm mmm mnm INVENTORS EDWIN K. SMITH JOHN D. ALEXANDER CLINTON F. BRUNDAGE ROBERT FOSTER AQZLMMM ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1966 E. K. SMITH ETAL MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Sept. 13, 1965 mmm mmm INVENTORS EDWIN K. SMITH JOHN D. ALEXANDER CLINTON F. BRUNDAGE ROBERT FOSTER ATTORNEYS Oct. 18,

Filed Sept FIG.22

E. K. SMITH ETAL MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORS EDWIN K. SMITH JOHN D. ALEXANDER CLINTON F. BRUNDAGE ROBERT FOSTER QVELMMM ATTORNEYS United States Patent Gfitice 3,279,360 Patented Oct. 18, 1965 3,279,360 MACHINE FOR PRINTING N CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Edwin K. Smith, Haworth, John D. Alexander, Hawtheme, and Clinton F. Brundage, Mahwah, N.J., and Robert Foster, Forest Hills, N.Y., assignors to Mehle- Goss-Dexter, Incorporated, Chicago, IlL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 486,998 19 Claims. (Cl. 10140) This invention relates to machines for printing on cylindrical objects such as glass, plastic or metal containers which may be formed by a mould-ing, extrusion or deep drawing process.

Machines proposed heretofore for printing on cylindrical containers generally include a continuously rotating blanket or image transfer cylinder which is adapted to receive color images from one or more plate cylinders and to transfer said images to the surfaces of the cylindrical containers. Various types of mechanisms are employed to convey the containers to a printing position ad jacent the blanket cylinder but during the period when a container is actually receiving an impression, the container, or the mandrel upon which it is mounted, invariably is controlled by an intermittently moving turret type carrier. The provision of such turret type carriers is required in order to maintain positive control of the containers during the impression portion of their cycle to thereby assure that the impressions printed thereon will be in precise register.

However, because the turret carriers of the known machines are arranged to rotate about an axis which is eccentric with respect to the printing cylinder the turrets must be indexed intermittently to thereby position each succeeding container in contact with the printing cylinder to receive an impression. The turret must remain fixed in one position until a container is fully rotated to receive its impression whereupon the turret must be indexed quickly to remove the printed container from the printing zone and to present the next succeeding container in position to receive an impression.

While the known machines have been capable of produc ing quality products they are relatively limited in production. This is due primarily to the dynamics involved in such intermittent operation of the turret and associated mechanisms which impose rigid limitations upon the speed at which they can be operated. Consequently, the maximum production of the known machines is limited to the printing of about two hundred containers per minute.

It is a primary object of this invention therefore to provide a machine for printing on cylindrical containers which is capable of vastly increased production.

A further object is to provide a machine for printing on cylindrical containers wherein the containers remain in constant motion and which includes means for maintaining positive control of the containers at all times as they travel through the machine.

Another object is to provide a printing machine for cylindrical containers wherein constantly rotating turret means are adapted to rigidly support and accurately register the containers with respect to the printing cylinder as they pass at a constant linear speed through the printing zone.

Another object is to provide a printing machine for cylindrical containers wherein the turret means for positively controlling the containers as they receive an impression is mounted coaxially with respect to the blanket cylinder whereby the containers are conveyed in a path precisely concentric with said cylinder as they travel through the printing zone.

Still another object resides in the provision of means for tripping a mandrel to an inoperative position as it passes through the printing zone if it has not received a container or if a container is improperly positioned thereon.

A further object is to provide means for initially accelerating and thereafter positively rotating the mandrel about its own axis in timed relation to the printing cylinder as the mandrel passes through the printing zone.

A still further object resides in the provision of means for maintaining the container under positive pressure against the blanket cylinder as it passes through the printing zone and which includes means whereby this pressure may conveniently by regulated.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevational view illustrating the main components of the machine and the path followed by the containers as they travel through a complete cycle;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of an infeed gripper carriage;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 2, partly in section and with parts thereof broken away to better illustrate the structur FIGURE 4 is an end view looking from right to left of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of mandrel assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a front elevation of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an end view looking from left to right of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged plan view, in section, of the mandrel assembly;

FIGURE 11, is a sectional view taken substantially along line 11-11 of FIGURE 10 and illustrating the mandrel assembly in the printing zone.

FIGURE 12, is a view taken substantially along line 1212 of FIGURE 1 and showing the location and arrangement of the blanket or printing cylinder and the turret assembly;

FIGURE 13, is a sectional view taken along line 1313 of FIGURE 12 and illustrating a mandrel assembly supported by the turret assembly in the printing zone.

FIGURE 14, is a view taken along line 1414 of FIG- URE 12;

FIGURE 15, is an enlarged sectional view along line 1515 of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a plan view showing the means for actuating the arbors on the turret assembly for engaging and releasing the mandrel assembly as it enters and leaves the printing zone.

FIGURE 17 is an elevational view taken along line 1717 of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 18 is a view taken along line 18-18 of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 19 is a section FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 20 is a plan view of the lever means for actuating the arbors of the turret assembly to engage, register and release the mandrel assemblies as they pass through the printing zone;

FIGURE 21 is a schematic elevation illustrating the drive arrangement; and

FIGURES 22 and 23 are enlarged views illustrating the elements of the tripping mechanism.

A machine constructed in accordance with this invention is schematically illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein it will be seen that the cylindrical containers 10 to be taken along line 19-19 of printed are fed to the printing machine directly from a forming machine or other source of supply on an endless chain 11 having laterally projecting pins 12 on which the containers are supported. The chain 11 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1 and as it passes about the sprocket 13 the containers are engaged by infeed mechanism, indicated generally at 14, which serves to remove the successive containers from the pins 12 and subsequently transfer them to a series of mandrels. The infeed mechanism consists of a series of infeed gripper carriages 15 that are secure-d between spaced endless chains 16 which convey the carriages in an endless curvilinear path about the sprockets 17, 18 and 19. As the gripper carriages move successively about the sprockets 18 in a path substantially concentric therewith the gripper fingers 21 and 22 of the respective carriages are arranged to be closed by means of a control cam 23 and caused to grip the succeeding containers.

After the gripper fingers have closed on the container and while the carriages are still moving in a path concentric to the sprocket 18, the respective carriages are successively shifted laterally by means of the cam 24 to thereby remove the containers from the pins 12. The carriages remain in this laterally shifted position as they travel about the sprocket 19 and until they begin to travel in the rectilinear portion of their path toward the sprocket 17.

During their travel through the rectilinear portion of their continuous path the respective gripper carriages move into juxtaposition with and travel at the same linear speed as a series of container receiving mandrels 26 that are supported at spaced intervals on endless chains 27 which convey the mandrels in a curvilinear path through the printing machine. At this point in their travel the cam 24 causes the gripper carriages to be shifted laterally back to their original position and such movement causes the containers to be inserted onto a mandrel which is aligned therewith. T hereupon the grippers 21 and 22 of the gripper carriage are opened by the cam 23 to release the container and they remain open as the carriage travels about the sprocket 17 and until they are in position to close on another container.

The mandrels on the other hand, which now have containers mounted thereon, travel with the endless chains 27 in a path about a pair of sprockets 28 and then in a reverse curvilinear path about the sprockets 29 which are mounted on the shaft 31. The arcuate path of the mandrels about the sprockets 29 constitutes the impression or printing zone of the cycle and during this portion of their travel the path of the mandrel is concentric with the periphery or impression surface 32 of a blanket cylinder 33.

The blanket cylinder is arranged to be rotated in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1, about the axis of the shaft 31 and it is adapted to receive inked images on the surface thereof from plate cylinders 34, 35, 36 and 37 having the respective inking mechanisms 38, 39, 40 and 41 associated therewith.

The blanket cylinder is driven at a faster speed than the sprockets 29 and thus the chains 27, and, therefore, as the mandrels 26 move through the printing zone with the containers in peripheral contact with the impression surface, the difference in speed between the blanket cylinder surface and the chains 27 will cause the mandrels to be rotated about their own axis in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, whereby the image on the blanket cylinder will be transferred to the periphery of the container.

Upon leaving the printing zone the mandrels travel about sprockets 42 and thence about sprockets 43 which are mounted coaxially with a varnishing cylinder 44 which applies a protective coating of varnish to the containers. After leaving the varnishing zone the mandrels travel about sprockets 46 and thence downwardly in a rectilinear path toward the sprockets 47 to begin another cycle of operation.

Located adjacent the rectilinear path of the mandrel conveyor is a delivery mechanism indicated at 48 which may be substantially identical to the infeed mechanism 14. The delivery mechanism is similarly comprised of endless chains 49 which travel about the sprockets 51, 52 and 53 and which carry a plurality of delivery gripper carriages 54.

As the carriages 54 travel in a clockwise direction about the sprocket 53 the gripper fingers 56 and 57 thereof are opened by means of a cam 58 and they remain open until they enter the rectilinear portion of their path and until they are aligned with and are traveling at the same speed as an adjacent mandrel 26.

As a carriage 54 and a mandrel 26 travel downwardly in unison through the rectilinear portions of their respective paths the cam 58 causes the grippers 56 and 57 to close on an aligned container whereupon the delivery carriages are cammed laterally by means of a cam 60 in the same manner as the infeed grippers to thereby remove the container from the mandrel. As mentioned above the delivery mechanism is substantially identical in its structure and function to the infeed mechanism with the exception of the grippers. Whereas the infeed grippers are arranged to engage the body portion of the unprinted containers, the delivery grippers are designed so as to engage only the flanged portion of the printed containers so that they will not smudge the Wet image on the body thereof.

As the mandrel travels about the sprocket 47, the container, which has now been removed therefrom, is conveyed about the sprockets 51 and as the carriage continues in its path about the sprocket 52 the container becomes aligned with a pin 61 on the conveyor chain 62. At this point the carriage 54 is cammed laterally back to its original position to thereby deposit the container on a pin 61 of the conveyor chain 62 whereupon the delivery grippers are opened once again by the cam 58. The container then travels with the chain 62 in a counterclockwise direction about the sprocket 63 to a drying oven or subsequent processing machine.

From the foregoing general description it will be seen that the containers, upon entering the printing machine, travel at a constant speed through a smooth flowing curvilinear path without any stops or abrupt changes in direction. This is important because it avoids imposing any stresses or strains upon the conveyors or other elementsof the mechanism and permits the operations to be performed at vastly increased speeds as compared to the known intermittently operating machines.

For a more detailed description of the various elements of the printing machine and their manner of operation reference is made to FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5 which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the infeed gripper carriages 15.

The gripper carriages of the infeed mechanism are all identical in construction and mode of operation and each consists of vertically disposed side plates 65 and 66 which are connected together in spaced relation by means of a round shaft 67 and a rectangular bar 68 both of which are rigidly secured to the respective side plates.

Each side plate is provided with a pair of rollers 69 rotatably mounted on studs projecting outwardly from the side plates and these rollers are arranged to ride in guide tracks formed by upper and lower guide members 71 and 72, respectively, which are secured to adjacent frame members (not shown). The carriages are connected to the conveyor chains 16 by drag links 73 which pull the carriage about the curvilinear path as indicated in FIGURE 1.

Although they have not been illustrated in FIGURE 1, it is to be understood that the tracks formed by the guide members 71 and 72 form a continuous path parallel to the path of the chains 16 so that the gripper carriages are firmly supported throughout their entire path of travel. The conveyor chains are thus relieved of any supporting function and serve merely to pull the respective carriages through their endless path.

Each side plate is also provided with a guide roller 74 mounted in an opening provided in the plates for rotation about a vertical axis and these rollers are adapted to engage the adjacent side faces of the respective guide members 72 with a minimum of clearance to thereby restrict any lateral movement of the carriages as they travel in their endless path.

A housing 76 is mounted on the shaft 67 for movement axially thereon and it is formed with a laterally projecting arm 77 having a bore therein to slidably receive a gripper actuating shaft 78 which extends parallel to the shaft 67 and is rotatably journalled in the side plates 65 and 66. The arm 77 also has a second bore therein to receive a pivot shaft 79 and at its free end it is provided with rollers 81 and 82 which are spaced apart vertically and are adapted to engage the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of the cross bar 68 to thereby stabilize and guide the housing as it moves axially on the shaft 67.

The gripper finger 22 is formed with spaced arms which are bored to fit over the shaft 78 upon which the gripper finger is mounted and the arms are keyed to said shaft in a manner that the finger 22 will rotate with said shaft when the latter is actuated, but it is free to slide axially relative to said shaft for reasons which will become evident hereinafter.

The gripper finger 21 is also formed with spaced arms 83 which are pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft 79 and one of said arms is formed with a lever 84, see FIGURE 5, having a gear segment 84a formed at the free end thereof which is adapted to mesh with a similar gear segment 85a provided at the end of the lever 85 formed on the arm 80 of gripper finger 22. Accordingly when the shaft 78 is oscillated the gripper finger 22 will move in unison therewith and through the intermeshing segments corresponding motion will be imparted to the fingers 21. The shaft 78 is arranged to be actuated by means of the lever 86 which is keyed to said shaft and carries at its free end a cam follower 87 which is arranged to engage the cam 23 to thereby control the opening and closing of the gripper fingers. A spring 88 connected between the eye bolt 89 on the shaft 78 and an eye bolt 91 on the bar 68 provides the force necessary to close the grippers and to maintain the follower 87 in intimate contact with the cam 23.

The arm 77 on housing 76 is also provided with a cam follower roller 92 depending from the bottom face thereof which is adapted to travel along the continuous cam 24 to thereby control the lateral shifting motion of the housing 76 axially on the shaft 67. A spring 93 connected between the stud 94 on the housing 76 and the eyebolt 96 on the side plate 66 serves to maintain the roller 92 in contact with the cam 24.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the infeed gripper mechanism operates as follows. As each carriage 15 moves about the sprocket 17, the cam follower 92 traverses a low portion of cam 24 so that the housing 76 and grippers 21 and 22 are in a container receiving position, to the right, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The cam follower 87 also rides on the cam 23 thereby holding the gripper fingers 21 and 22 open against the tension of the spring 88.

As the gripper carriage begins to move in a path about the sprocket 18, the gripper fingers assume positions on opposite sides of a container on the pin chain 11. As movement of the carriage continues, the cam follower 87 moves oil? the cam 23 thereby permitting the fingers 21 and 22 to close in unison and grip the container under the influence of the spring 88. Immediately after the grippers have closed, the cam roller 92 engages an inclined portion of the cam 24 which causes the housing 76 and therewith the grippers 21 and 22 to be shifted laterally to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 3, to thereby remove the container from its supporting pin 12 on the pin chain 11. The gripper assembly will remain in this shifted position as it travels about the sprocket 19 and until the container is aligned with a mandrel 26 such as is indicated by the broken lines in FIGURE 3. Thereupon the cam roller 92 engages a declining portion of the cam 24, permitting the gripper assembly to return laterally to the right under the tension of the spring 93 to place the container on the mandrel as the gripper carriage and the mandrel move at the same linear speed. After the container has been placed on the mandrel, the cam follower 87 once again engages the cam 23 to open the grippers to release the container as the gripper carriage moves -to engage another container and the mandrel advances toward the printing Zone.

As was mentioned hereinabove in connection with FIG- URE l, a series of mandrel assemblies are adapted to receive successive containers from the infeed grippers and convey them through the printing and varnishing zones to a delivery mechanism. The mandrel assemblies are all identical in construction and mode of operation and they are secured in spaced relation to the endless chains 27 which serve to convey them through their curvilinear path.

With reference to FIGURES 6 to 11, inclusive, it will be seen that each mandrel assembly is comprised of a main support member 97 of hollow tubular construction which extends substantially across the full width of the machine. At each end thereof the support member is provided with an end plate such as 98 and 99, each of which is provided with two rollers 101 that are adapted to ride in tracks formed by upper and lower guide plates 102 and 103 respectively, that are secured to the main farme members. The tracks preferably extend about the complete path of travel of the conveyor chains and they provide firm support for the assemblies which are connected at each end to the respective conveyor chains by means of the drag links 104. Each end plate also has a guide roller 106 disposed for rotation about a vertical axis in openings 107 provided in the end plates and these rollers are adapted to engage the adjacent side faces of the guide plates 102 to thereby restrict any lateral motion of the assemblies particularly at those positions at which a container is inserted onto or removed from the respective mandrels.

Intermediate the end plates 98 and 99 the support member 97 is provided with spaced depending brackets 108 and 109 which rotatably journal a pivot shaft 111 having a cone shaped recess such as 112 and 113 respectively at the opposite ends thereof. The shaft 111 provides support for a mandrel housing 114 which is formed with spaced arms 116 and 117 having bores therein to fit over the shaft 111. The arms 116 and 117 are spaced so as to fit closely against the outer faces of the respective brackets 108 and 109, to prevent lateral movement of the housing relative to the support member 97 and they are clamped securely to the shaft 111 by means such as the bolts 118.

An arbor 119 is journalled for rotation within the housing 114 in bearings 121 and 122 and the end 123 thereof projects beyond the housing to provide support for a mandrel '26. The mandrel is releasably mounted on the arbor by means of a bolt 124 and a washer 125 and a pin 126, which projects radially from the arbor, is adapted to fit into a groove 127 in the edge of the mandrel to prevent any rotary motion of the mandrel relative to the arbor.

The mandrel 26 is provided with a circumferential groove 128 adjacent the inner end thereof to accommodate a resilient O ring 129 which serves to retain the containers in position on the mandrel after they have been inserted thereon by the infeed grippers. The O ring ,is preferably made of rubber or a similar resilient material having a relatively 'high coefficient of friction and it has an outer diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the mandrel as well as the inside diameter of the containers. Accordingly, when a container is inserted over the mandrel the O ring will be compressed and the resultant frictional contact between the container and the O ring will secure the container in position on the mandrel until it is removed by the delivery grippers.

This constitutes a relatively simple and effective means for retaining a relatively loose container against axial movement on the mandrel and whereby said container can be accelerated prior to impression contact. Moreover, because the O ring is located entirely within the container body, when the latter is mounted on a mandrel, it is possible to print directly over the O ring so that the image can be extended over the entire length of the container. In other words, because the retaining means does not comprise any external members, it is possible to print right up to the preformed flange on the container in which case the O ring is compressed at the line of impression thereby allowing the container body to span the groove 128 and rest solidly against the mandrel surface as the container revolves against the blanket cylinder.

Also mounted on the pivot shaft 111 for coaction with the housing 114 is a control arm 131 having a base portion 131a which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 111 between the bracket 1119 and a snap ring 132. The control arm extends laterally, parallel to the housing 114 and at its free end it carries a cam roller 133 and a pressure control screw 136. The pressure control screw is theaded though the control arm in a manner that it engages a machined surface 137 on the housing 114, see FIGURE 9, and a nut 138 is provided for locking the screw 136 in any adjusted position.

The housing 114 and therewith the control arm 131 are normally biased against a stop screw 139 in the support member 97 under the resilient pressure of a spring 141, see FIGURE 6. The spring 141 is mounted about a rod 142 that is slidably mounted in the wall of the support member 97 and said rod is pivotally connected at one end to the housing 114 by means of the links 143. The spring is confined between the wall of the support 97 and a nut 144 on the rod 142 and thus normally urges the housing 114 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG- URE 9.

In this position the mandrel 26 and more particularly the cylindrical container carried thereby, is held in spaced relation with respect to the impression surface of the blanket 32 on the printing cylinder 33 as indicated in FIGURE 7. However, as illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 11, as the mandrel assembly enters the printing zone, the cam roller 133 on the control arm 131 moves into contact with a cam 146 mounted on the machine frame and which functions to pivot the mandrel assembly about the axis of shaft 111 to thereby press the body of the container against the impression surface of the blanket 32. The control surface 147 of the cam is curved so as to be concentric with the printing cylinder and it causes the control arm 131 to pivot in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 11, about the pivot shaft 111. Due to the contact between the pressure screw 136 and the housing 114, the latter also pivots about the shaft 111 against the tension of the spring 141 to thereby press the container body against the blanket 32 to receive an impression.

The earn 146 maintains the container against the impression surface as the mandrel assembly moves through the printing zone and until the impression is completed on the periphery thereof. Upon completion of the impression, the cam roller 133 leaves the cam 146 and the tension of spring 141 acting-on the housing 114 returns said housing and therewith the control arm 131 against the stop screw 139.

It will be noted that by actuating the housing 114 through the arm 131, and the cam 146 the pressure between the container body and the surface of the blanket 32 is positively controlled and the pressure can readily 8 be regulated by a simple adjustment of the pressure screw 136.

Upon entering the printing zone, control of the mandrel assembly is temporarily transferred from the flexible conveyor chains 27 to a continuously rotating turret mechanism which is adapted to accurately register the mandrels with respect to the blanket cylinder and to main tain positive control of the mandrel assembly as it travels through the printing zone.

With reference now to FIGURES 12 and 13, it will be seen that the shaft 31 which supports and drives the spaced sprockets 29 for the mandrel conveyor chains 27, extends transversely across the width of the machine and is journalled for rotation in the main side frames 152 and 153 by means of the bearings 154 and 155 respectively. It is also supported intermediate its length in a bearing 157 mounted in an auxiliary frame member 158.

The shaft 31 is driven by means of a gear 159 secured to the end thereof which meshes with a gear 161 on the shaft 162, see FIGURE 1, which also supports and drives the conveyor sprockets 28. A second gear 163, which may be formed integral with gear 161, meshes with a drive gear 164 secured to a drive shaft 166 that extends parallel to the shaft 31 and is journalled for rotation in the side frames.

The turret mechanism is mounted on the shaft 31 for rotation therewith in precise timed relation with the sprock ets 29 and it is comprised of a cylindrical housing 167 that is fixed securely to said shaft and is formed with flanges 168 and 169 at the respective ends thereof. Fixed to the flange 168 by means such as the bolts 171 is a circular disc 172 which is provided with a series of units indicated generally at 173 having operation to engage one end of each mandrel assembly as it enters the printing zone and to drive the respective mandrels in timed relation with the impression surface 32 of the blanket cylinder 33. For the sake of clarity of the drawings only two such units are illustrated in FIGURE 12 and only a portion of one such unit is shown in FIGURE 13, but with reference to FIGURE 14 it will be seen that eight of these units, in the present embodiment, are arranged in spaced relation adjacent the periphery of the disc 172.

The respective units are all identical in structure and mode of operation and each one consists of a spindle 174 which is slidably mounted in a housing 176, see FIGURE 15, for axial movement relative to the disc 172. A pin 177 is inserted .transversely through the spindle 174 and it passes through a slot 178 in the housing 176 which permits the pin to move axially with the spindle but prevents the spindle from rotating relative to the housing.

A lever 179, see also FIGURES 16 and 17, is mounted for pivoting motion about the axis of a pin 181 secured between spaced projecting stub shafts 182 and 183 on the disc 172 and it is formed with curved yoke arms 184 and 185 which are adapted to partially encircle the spindle housing 176. The yoke arms are provided with grooves 186 and 187 formed in the respective ends thereof and these grooves are adapted to receive the projecting ends of the pin 177.

Lever 179 is also formed with an arm 188 at the lower end thereof which is bifurcated to receive one end of a connecting rod 189 which is pivotally connected to said arm by a pin 191.

A second lever 192 is mounted adjacent lever 179 for pivoting motion about the axis of a pin 193 which is also secured between the spaced stub shafts 182 and 183 with its axis parallel to that of the pin 181. The lever 192 is formed with an arm 194 which extends substantially parallel to the arm 188 of lever 179 and the end thereof is bifurcated to accommodate the connecting rod 189. As best shown in FIGURE 17, a U-shaped bracket 196 is pivotally mounted between the spaced ends of the arm 194 on a pin 197 and it is provided with an opening 198 through which the reduced diameter end 199 of the connecting rod 189 is slidably inserted. A compression spring 201 is mounted over the end 199 of the connecting rod 189 and it is confined between the bracket 196 and a washer 202 which is secured in position on the connecting rod by means of an adjustable nut 203. The spring 20 1 normally maintains the pin 197 in contact with one end of a slot 204 in the connecting rod 189, which slot is elongated to permit relative movement of the lever 192 relative to lever 179 for a purpose which will become clear hereinafter.

The arm 194 of lever 192 also carries a cam roller 206 depending from the bottom face thereof which is adapted to travel in a continuous cam groove 207 formed in the periphery of a drum shaped cam 208 which is secured to a frame member 209 by means such as the bolts 211.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the housing 167 and therewith the disc 172 will rotate with the shaft 31 in timed relation with the conveyor chains 27. As a mandrel assembly enters the printing zone and commences to travel about the axis of the shaft 31 the pivot shaft 111 thereof will be aligned with a spindle 174 of the turret. At this point in the cycle the cam roller 206 Will be cammed to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 16 by the cam track 207, causing the lever 192 to pivot clockwise about the axis of the pin 193. Corresponding motion will be transmitted to the lever 179 through the spring 201 and connecting rod 189 causing the yoke arms 184 and 185 to shift the spindle 174, to the right as viewed in FIGURE 15, through the connection between the yoke arms and the pin 177. The cone shaped end 212 of the spindle will thus be caused to enter the recess 112 in the end of the pivot shaft 111 in a manner as indicated in FIGURE 13 to thereby assume control of the mandrel assembly.

The opposite end of the pivot shaft 111 is adapted to be engaged and controlled in a similar manner by units indicated generally by the numeral 213 in FIGURES 12 and 13 and which are arranged in circular fashion about a disc 214 which is secured to the flange 169 of the housing 167 by means such as the bolts 216.

With reference to FIGURES 18, 19 and 20, the units 213 are shown as disposed about the disc 214 and each unit includes a spindle 217 which is precisely aligned with a coacting spindle 174 in the disc 172. The spindles 217 are mounted for axial sliding motion in a housing 218 mounted in the disc 214 and a pin 219 mounted transversely through the spindle, is received in a groove 221 formed in the housing, which permits the spindle to move axially in the housing but prevents the spindle from rotating relative to the housing.

A lever 222 is mounted for pivoting motion about the axis of a pin 223 secured between spaced projecting stub shafts 224 and 225 On the disc 214 and it is formed with curved yoke arms 226 and 227 which partially encircle the housing 218. The ends of the yoke arms are slotted as at 228 to receive the projecting ends of the pin 219 whereby movement of the lever 222 is transmitted to the spindle 217. The lever 222 is also formed with an arm 229 at the lower end thereof having a cam roller 231 depending from its lower face and said cam roller is adapted to ride in a continuous cam track 232 formed in the periphery of a drum shaped cam 233 which is secured to the frame member 204 by the bolts 211.

It will thus be evident that the operation of the units 213 on the disc 214 is substantially the same as the units 173 on disc 172. As the disc 214 rotates about the axis of shaft 31 the cam roller 231 rides in the cam track 233 and will be cammed to the left in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 20, at precisely the same time that the cam roller 206 on lever 192 is cammed to the right. The resultant movement of the lever 222 will shift the spindle 217 axially to the left thereby causing the cone shaped end 234 thereof to be inserted into the recess 113 in the adjacent end of the pivot shaft 111 as illustrated in FIGURE 13. The contour of the cam tracks 207 and 232 is such that the spindles 174 and 217 will remain engaged with the pivot shaft 111 during the entire time that a mandrel assembly is travelling through the printing zone so that the mandrel will be under positive control while the container thereon is receiving an impression. Upon reaching the end of the printing zone, the cam rollers 206 and 231 are cammed outwardly to thereby retract the respective spindles and permit the mandrel assembly to follow in the path as defined by the conveyor chains 27.

It is also important to note that whereas the spindle 174 is actuated through the resilient spring 201, the spindle 217 has a rigid connection with the cam roller 231 so that it is positively moved through a fixed distance in both directions. Thus the spindle 217 functions as a registering means which locates the mandrel 26 in exact position axially with respect to the blanket cylinder 33 as indicated in FIGURE 13, so that the impression will be accurately located on the container 10 and the preformed flange 236 on the container will be aligned with a groove 237 provided therefor in the periphery of the blanket cylinder.

The spindle 174 on the other hand is arranged to be actuated through the spring 201 and the cam groove 207 is so design-ed as to impart a movement to the lever 192 slightly in excess of that required to move the spindle into contact with the pivot shaft 111. The spring 201 serves to eliminate any looseness due to manufacturing tolerances or the like machining variations and it maintains the pivot shaft 111 in intimate contact with the spindle 217.

While the mandrel assemblies travel through the printing zone, the mandrels are arranged to be driven at a surface speed precisely equal to the surface speed of the blanket cylinder 33 by means of a sun gear 238 mounted for rotation about the axis of the shaft 31 and which is adapted to drive a planetary gear 239 associated with each of the units 173 on the disc 172. The sun gear 238 is mounted on a housing 241 journalled on bearings 242 for rotation about the axis of the shaft 31 and the housing is driven at the required differential speed with respect to the shaft 31 through a gear 243 which is secured to said housing. The gear 243 meshes with a gear 244 on the shaft 246 which in turn is driven by a gear 247 which meshes with a drive gear 248 on the drive shaft 166.

The sun gear 238 drives the respective planetary gears 239, each of which is mounted on a shaft 249, see FIG- URE 15, that is journalled for rotation in bearings 251 mounted in a housing 252 carried by the disc 172. At its opposite end the shaft 249 carries a spur gear 253 which is arranged to mesh with gear teeth 254 formed on the periphery of a clutch housing 256 which is journalled for rotation about the axis of the spindle 174 by the bearings 257. The bearings 257 are secured against axial movement relative to the spindle 174 by means such as the snap rings 258. The clutch housing 256 is formed with clutch teeth 259 about the periphery thereof and it also carries a friction disc 261 which is normally held in a position wherein its outer surface projects axially beyond the teeth 259 of the housing under the resilient tension of springs 262.

Accordingly as the sun gear 238 and the disc 172 rotate at their respective differential speeds about the axis of the shaft 31, the sun gear will drive the planetary gears 239 and through the gear 253 corresponding rotary motion will be imparted to the clutch housing 256.

The clutch housing 256 is' adapted to coact with a clutch housing 263 on the pivot shaft 111, see FIGURES 7 and 10, to thereby drive the mandrel 26 when the latter travels through the printing zone. The clutch housing 263 is journalled for rotation about the axis of the pivot shaft 111 on bearings 264 which are held in position by a snap ring 266 and said housing is provided with clutch teeth 268 and a friction plate 269. The housing 263 also has gear teeth 271 formed on the periphery thereof which mesh with a spur gear 272 which is rigidly secured to the end of the mandrel arbor 119.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that when the spindle 174 is shifted axially to engage the pivot shaft 111 of a mandrel assembly as the latter enters the printing zone, the constantly rotating clutch housing 256 will move axially to the right with said spindle. This motion will cause the friction plate 261 to initially engage the friction plate 269 on the housing 263 whereby said housing will be accelerated to the speed of the clutch housing 256. Continued axial movement of the spindle 174 will force the friction plate 261 axially, to the left as viewed in FIGURE 15, against the tension of the springs 262 whereupon the clutch teeth 259 on housing 256 will engage the clutch teeth 268 on housing 263 to thereby establish a positive drive to the arbor 119 as the end 212 of the spindle engages the socket 112 in the pivot shaft 111. The ratio of the various drive gears is such that a container on the mandrel 26 will thus be positively rotated at -a surface speed which is precisely synchronized with the surface speed of the blanket cylinder as the mandrel travels through the printing zone. It will be noted that the teeth 254 on the clutch housing 256 are made sufficiently wide to accommodate the axial shifting motion of the housing without affecting the drive. Moreover, the clutch housing 263 is mounted on the pivot shaft 111 so that the meshing relation between the gear teeth 271 thereon and the gear 272 will not be disturbed when the mandrel housing 114 pivots about the axis of the shaft 111.

The blanket cylinder 33 is mounted for rotation about the axis of the shaft 31 adjacent the turret mechanism, but it is adapted to be rotated at a differential speed with respect to said shaft and turret mechanism. Therefore, it is journalled on bearings 276 mounted on a tubular housing 277 which is telescoped over the shaft 31 and the ends of said housing are suitably mounted in the respective frame members 158 and 278. A gear 279 secured to the end of the blanket cylinder is arranged to mesh with an idler gear 281 on the stub shaft 282 and the latter gear is, in turn, driven by the gear 283 on the drive shaft 166. The blanket cylinder gear 279 also serves to drive the respective plate cylinders 34, 35, 36 and 37 in unison with the blanket cylinder, said plate cylinders each having a gear, such as the gear 284 mounted on the plate cylinder 36, see FIGURE 13, and which meshes with the blanket cylinder gear. As will be seen in FIG- URE 13, the plate cylinders are journ-alled for rotation in the frame members 158 and 278 and each plate cylinder is provided with bearers 279 which are adapted to ride on the bearers 281 on the blanket cylinder.

The actual construction of the blanket cylinder forms no part of the present invention and it may be formed with a substantially continuous peripheral surface having a single gap 286 therein, see FIGURE 11, to accommodate conventional blanket clamping means such as are indicated at 287. In such case a single blanket 32 would be wrapped about the-periphery of the blanket cylinder with the respective ends thereof secured to the clamping means in the gap 286. However, for convenience of main tenance and makeready it is preferred to separate the periphery of the blanket cylinder into four equal segments, as indicated in FIGURE 1, with a corresponding number of gaps therein to accommodate the respective blanket clamping means. In such case, each segment is equal in length to the plates on the respective plate cylinders and will transfer a complete image onto the periphery of the maximum size container for which the press is designed.

The main drive mechanism which imparts power to the drive shaft 166 and the sprockets for the various conveyors and coacting elements is illustrated in FIGURE 21 wherein it will be seen that a main drive shaft 288, is journalled for rotation on the side frame 152, not shown in this figure, and is driven from a motor 289 through an endless belt 291. A bevel gear 292 at one end of said shaft drives the shaft 166 through the coacting bevel gear 293 and the gear 164 on the shaft 166, as previously mentioned, transmits power to the gear 163 on the shaft 162 which supports and drives the mandrel conveyor sprockets 28.

From the gear 163 the drive is transmitted to a gear 294 on the shaft 296 for the infeed conveyor sprockets 17 and this gear in turn drives the gear 297 on the shaft 298 of the pin chain sprocket 13 to thereby drive the pin chain 11 in precise timed relation with the infeed gripper mechanism.

The gear 161 on the sprocket shaft 162 is arranged to drive the shaft 31 through the gear 157 which in turn drives a gear 299 on the shaft 301 for the sprockets 42. From gear 299 the drive is further transmitted to the shaft 302 for the conveyor sprocket 42 through the gear 303.

At its opposite end the drive shaft 288 is provided with a second bevel gear 304 which is adapted to drive a bevel gear 306 on the shaft 307. A gear 308 on the latter shaft drives a gear 309 on the shaft 310 of the delivery sprockets 51 to thereby drive the delivery conveyor in precise timed relation with the mandrel conveyor and gear 309 also drives the gear 311 mounted on the shaft 312 which supports and drives the sprockets for the pin chain 62. A second gear 313 on the shaft 310 also drives the gear 314 which drives the mandrel conveyor sprockets 47 that are supported on the shaft 315.

With this drive arrangement it will be seen that the sprockets for the various conveyors are all driven by positive gear means, thereby relieving the respective chain conveyor means from any driving function and insuring accurate positioning of respective container engaging members at all transfer points, etc., throughout the press.

In the event that a container should fall off or otherwise fail to be inserted onto a pin 12 on the pin chain 11 it is obvious that one of the m-andrels 26 will not have a container thereon during one cycle as it passes through the printing zone. In such case, it is desirable that said mandrel be tripped or prevented from contacting the im pression surface of the printing cylinder to avoid depositing ink on the periphery of the mandrel as it passes through the printing zone. If such provision is not made, the ink applied to the surface of the mandrel will be offset onto the inner surface of the next several container carried thereby and unless these defective containers are rejected by some suitable means the ink might contaminate the substance with which the container is subsequently filled. Moreover, if the ink is partially dry it may cause a next succeeding container to stick to the mandrel so that it cannot be removed by the delivery gripper means and will thus jam up the press.

To avoid such complications means are provided for tripping the impression cam 146 to an inoperative position so that a mandrel which does not have a container thereon will remain spaced from the impression surface of the blanket cylinder at it passes through the printing zone.

The mechanism for effecting the tripping function is illustrated in FIGURES 1, 21, 22 and 23 wherein it will be observed that a disc 316 is mounted on a shaft 317 that is journalled for rotation in the side frame 152. A gear 318, also mounted on said shaft, is adapted to mesh with a gear 319 on the shaft 312 and the ratio of said gears is such that the disc 316 will rotate through one complete revolution while the mandrel conveyor 27 makes one complete cycle through the printing press.

The disc 316 is provided with a series of pins 321 which are slidably mounted in a corresponding number of bushings 322 for axial movement between normal inoperative positions wherein they project beyond the rear face of the disc and a trip actuating position wherein they extend beyond the front face of the disc. The number of pins on the disc is equal to the number of mandrels 26 on the mandrel conveyor 27 and they are arranged in a circle adjacent the periphery of the disc 316.

The pins are arranged to be moved from their inoperative position to the trip actuating position by means of a solenoid 323 which is secured to a plate 324 that is mounted on the side frame 152. When de-energized, the core 326 of the solenoid is retracted as shown in FIG- URE 22 to clear the pins 321. When momentarily energized however, the core 326 is extended at the precise moment that a particular pin 321 is aligned therewith to thereby shift the said pin to its trip actuating position.

A microswitch 327 is secured to the plate 324 by means of a bracket 328 in a position wherein it clears the pins 321 when said pins are retracted but it is adapted to be actuated by a pin that is in the trip actuating position. The microswitch is adapted when actuated, to close a circuit to a solenoid 329, see FIGURE 1, which is mounted on a convenient frame member and pivotally connected to the cam 146. The latter is pivotally mounted as at 331 and is normally maintained in an operative, mandrel depressing position by a spring 332 which is mounted over the rod 333 and confined between the block 334 and the cam.

Any suitable means may be used to detect the presence of a container on the respective mandrels 26, but in FIGURE 1 we have shown, merely by way of example, a photocell 336 which is located in a position wherein it will detect the presence of a container immediately after it has been inserted on the mandrel by the infeed grippers 21-22. Preferably the detector means are such that they will not only detect the presence of a container but also whether the container is fully inserted on the mandrel. This is important because if a container is only partially inserted on the mandrel, the image will not be printed in register thereon and moreover, if the flange 236 of the container is not aligned with the groove 237 provided therefor in the blanket cylinder, as illustrated in FIGURE 13, it may damage the blanket.

To understand the operation of the detecting and tripping mechanism it will be appreciated that the detecting function is effected at a time when a mandrel 26 is aligned with the photocell 336 at which time a pin 321 which corresponds to the particular mandrel, is aligned with the solenoid 323. If, at this time a container is properly positioned on the mandrel the solenoid will not be actuated. However, if a container is missing or is not fully inserted on the mandrel, the photocell will energize the solenoid and its core 326 will be projected to shift the aligned pin 321 to its trip actuating position.

Since the containerless mandrel is not in the printing zone at this time no further action takes place and the mandrel will continue in its path toward the printing zone and the shifted pin 321 will rotate clockwise with the disc 316 toward the microswitch 327. The timing of the disc 316 and mandrel conveyor 27 is such that as the containerless mandrel is about to enter the printing zone, the shifted pin 321 will engage the microswitch 327 which in turn will energize the solenoid 329 to thereby pivot the cam 146 to an inoperative position against the force of the spring 332. In this position, the cam 146 will not engage the cam roller 133 on the control arm 131 as described with reference to FIGURE 11 and thus the man drel 26 will remain spaced from the impression surface of the blanket 32 so that the image on the blanket will not be transferred to the surface of the mandrel.

The microswitch will keep the solenoid 329 energized until the containerless mandrel leaves the printing zone. At this point the finger 337 will leave the actuated pin 321 to thereby open the microswitch. The solenoid will then be de-energized whereupon the spring 332 will return the cam 146 to its operative position so that the next container carrying mandrel will be pressed against the blanket cylinder to receive an impression.

Upon continued rotation of the disc 316 the pin 321 will engage the inclined surface 339 of a block 340 which will shift the pin back to its inoperative position for the next cycle of operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers, a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone, a plurality of container carrying mandrel assemblies, turret means for conveying said mandrel assemblies through said printing zone in a path concentric with said impression surface, said turret means being mounted for rotation about the axis of said printing cylinder, and means for rotating said turret means continuously in the same direction but at a differential speed with respect to the printing cylinder.

2. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers the combination comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone, a rotatable mandrel for supporting the containers to be printed, and turret means for conveying said mandrel through said printing zone in a path concentric to the impression surface of said printing cylinder, said turret means including spaced discs mounted for rotation about the axis of the printing cylinder, and means on said discs for positively engaging and controlling the mandrel as it travels through the printing zone.

3. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers the combination comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone, a mandrel for supporting the container to be printed, said mandrel being supported for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the printing cylinder, conveyor means for conveying said mandrel to a position adjacent said printing zone, and mandrel holder means for conveying said mandrel through the printing zone in a path concentric to the impression surface of the printing cylinder, said holder means including spaced d-iscs mounted for rotation about the axis of the printing cylinder, means for rotating said discs in timed relation with said printing cylinder, and means on each disc for engaging and controlling the mandrel as it passes through the printing zone.

4. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers the combination comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone, a container supporting mandrel mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis for the printing cylinder, mandrel 'holder means for conveying said mandrel through the printing zone in a path concentric to the impression cylinder, said holder means including spaced discs mounted for rotation about the axis of the printing cylinder, means for rotating said discs in timed relation with said printing cylinder, means on each disc for engaging said mandrel as it approaches the printing zone and whereby said mandrel is supported for pivoting motion about an axis parallel to said impression surface, resilient means normally holding said mandrel in spaced relation with respect to the impression surface of the printing cylinder, and cam means for pressing said mandrel against said impression surface as the mandrel passes through the printing zone to thereby transfer an impression to the container carried thereby.

5. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers the combination comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone, a holder mounted coaxially with the printing cylinder and rotatable in timed relation therewith, spaced discs mounted on said holder, spindle means on each 'disc, a shaft pivot-ally supported at each end by the respective spindle means with its pivot axis parallel to the axis of said holder, a housing mounted for pivoting motion about the axis of said shaft, 2. container supporting mandrel mounted in said housing for rotation about an axis parallel to said impression surface, means for rotating said holder to thereby convey the mandrel through the printing zone in a path concentric with the pr nting cylinder, spring means normally maintaining said housing at a radius such that the mandrel is spaced from said impression surface, and cam means for pivotmg the housing about said shaft to thereby press the mandrel against the impression surf-ace as it travels through the printing zone to transfer an impression to the container carried thereby.

6. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers the combination comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone, turret means mounted for rotation about an axis coincident with the axis of thte printing cylinder, a plurality of container supporting mandrels, mounted for rotation about their respective axes, means for conveying said mandrels in a continuous path a portion of which extends through the printing zone, retractable means on said turret means, means for actuating said retractable means to engage and thereby positively control said mandrels as they enter the printing zone and travel in a path concentric with said impression surface, continuously rotating drive means on said turret means, and clutch means adapted to be actuated upon actuation of said retractable means for connecting the continuously rotating drive means with said mandrels to thereby positively rotate said mandrels about their respective axes in timed relation with the impression surface as they travel through the printing zone.

7. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone, a series of continuously moving mandrel assemblies each having a rotatable mandrel for carrying a container through said printing zone, turret means for temporarily controlling said mandrel assemblies as they pass through the printing zone, said turret means including spaced discs mounted for rotation about the axis of the printing cylinder, means for rotating said discs in timed relation with the printing cylinder, spindle means on each disc, means for moving said spindle means to engage and positively control the mandrel assemblies as they pass through the printing zone, drive'gear means carried by sa d turret means, means for continuously driving said drive gear means, gear means carried by said mandrel assembly for positively rotating the mandrel, clutch means on the mandrel assembly, and coacting clutch means on the turret adapted to engage the clutch means on the mandrel assembly upon movement of the spindle means to engage a mandrel assembly.

8. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers the combination comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a prmtmg zone, a mandrel assembly including a mandrel mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to said impression surface, turret means mounted coaxially with the printing cylinder for rotation in timed relation therewith, means on said turret means for engaging said mandrel assembly and for registering said mandrel axially to maintain said mandrel in spaced relation with respect to the impression surface as the mandrel travels in a path concentric to said surface, cam means having an operative position wherein it presses a container carrying mandrel against the impression surface as the mandrel travels thru the printing zone and an inoperative position wherem it permits the mandrel to remain spaced from said surface as the mandrel passes thru the printing zone, detec tor means for detecting the presence of a container on said mandrel, and means responsive to said detector means in the absence of a container for moving said cam to said inoperative position as the mandrel travels thru the printing zone.

9. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers the combination comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone, a mandrel assembly including a support, a shaft mounted on said support, a housing pivotally mounted on said sha'f-t, a container receiving mandrel rotatably mounted in said housing, conveyor means for conveying the mandrel assembly to a position adjacent said printing zone, turret means mounted for continuous rotation about the axis of the printing cylinder in timed relation therewith, and means on said turret means for pivotally engaging said shaft whereby control of said mandrel assembly is transferred from said conveyor means to said turret means as the mandrel assembly passes through the printing zone.

10. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers the combination comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously thru a printing zone, a mandrel assembly including a support, a shaft mounted on said support, a housing pivotally mounted on said shaft, a container receiving mandrel rotatably mounted in said housing, conveyor means for conveying the mandrel assembly to a position adjacent the printing zone, turret means mounted coaxially with the printing cylinder for rotation in timed relation therewith, means on said turret means for pivotally engaging said shaft whereby control of the mandrel assembly is transferred from said conveyor means to said turret means as the mandrel assembly passes through the printing zone, resilient means on said assembly for holding the mandrel in spaced relation with respect to the impression surface of the printing cylinder as the mandrel assembly moves in a path concentric to the impression sunface, and cam means for pivoting said housing about the axis of said shaft to thereby press a container on said mandrel against the said impression surface as the assembly passes through the printing zone.

11. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers the combination comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone, a plurality of mandrel assemblies each including a container receiving mandrel, continuously moving conveyor means for conveying the mandrel assemblies in an endless path a portion of which is through said printing zone, gripper means having movement in timed relation with said conveyor means for placing a container on each succeeding mandrel as the latter moves toward said printing zone, turret means mounted for rotation about the axis of said printing cylinder and in timed relation therewith, control means on said turret means for engaging and positively controlling said mandrel assemblies as they pass thru the printing zone in a path concentric with said impression surface, delivery gripper means having continuous motion in timed relation with said conveyor means, and means for actuating said delivery gripper means to engage and remove the containers from each succeeding mandrel after the mandrels leave said printing zone.

12. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers the combination comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone, a plurality of container supporting mandrels, conveyor means for conveying the mandrels through said printing zone for co-action with the impression surface, feed means having movement in timed relation with said conveyor means for inserting containers seriatim onto each succeeding mandrel as the latter approach the printing zone, said containers having an inside diameter such that they have a relatively loose sliding fit on said mandrels, and means for retaining the containers in position on the mandrels as they pass through the printing zone, said means comprising a resilient annular member mounted about the periphery of the mandrel and having an outer diameter slightly greater than the inside diameter of the containers whereby said annular member is compressed between the mandrel and the container upon insertion of the container onto the mandrel.

13. A machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein the container retaining means comprises a resilient -O ring which is mounted in an annular groove formed in the periphery of the mandrel adjacent the inner end thereof, the outer diameter of the O ring being slightly greater than the diameter of the mandrel.

14. In a machine for processing cylindrical containers, the provision of at least one mandrel upon which the con, tainers are inserted and which is adapted to convey the containers through a processing station, said containers having an inside diameter such that they have a relatively loose sliding 'fit on the mandrel, and means for retaining the containers in position on the mandrel during the processing thereof, said means comprising a resilient annular member mounted about the periphery of the mandrel and having an outer diameter slightly greater than the inside diameter of the containers whereby said annular member is compressed between the mandrel and the container upon insertion of the latter onto the mandrel.

15. In a machine :for printing cylindrical containers comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone, and a series of continuously moving mandrel assemblies each having a rotatable mandrel for carrying a container through said printing zone, the provision of turret means for controlling said mandrel assemblies as they pass through the printing zone, said turret means com prising a pair of spaced discs mounted coaxially with the printing cylinder, means for rotating said discs in timed relation with the printing cylinder, a movable spindle on each disc, said spindles being supported in opposed relation with their axes aligned and parallel to the axis of the printing cylinder, and means for imparting axial motion to said spindles in opposite directions toward each other to thereby engage a mandrel assembly as it enters the printing zone.

16. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers comprising a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate continuously through a printing zone and a series of continuously moving mandrel assemblies each having a rotatable mandrel for carrying a container through said printing zone, the provision of turret means for positively controlling the mandrel assemblies as they pass through the printing zone comprising a pair of spaced discs mounted ooaxially with the printing cylinder, means for rotating said discs in the same direction but at a differential speed with respect to the printing cyl inder, a :plurality of axially mova'ble spindles on each disc, the spindles on one disc being aligned with the spindles on the other disc with their axes parallel to the axis of the printing cylinder, means for moving the spindles on one disc through a fixed distance axially to ward the coacting spindle on the other disc to thereby engage one side of the mandrel assembly as it enters the printing zone and register said assembly axially with respect to the impression surface on the printing cylinder, means for moving the spindle on the other disc axially toward the coacting spindle on said one disc to thereby engage the other side of the mandrel assemby, the latter means including resilient spring means for pressing said mandrel assembly against the spindle on said one disc.

17. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers, a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate through a printing zone, a carrier, means mounted for rotation about the axis of said printing cylinder for conveying said carrier through the printing zone in a path concentric to the printing cylinder, a container carrying mandrel pivotally mounted on said carrier, said mandrel having an inoperative position wherein the container is spaced from said impression surface and a printing position wherein the container is pressed against said impression surface, resilient means normally biasing said mandrel to its inoperative position, means including a control arm pivotally mounted on said carrier for pivoting said mandrel to its printing position as the mandrel enters the printing zone, and adjustable means carried by the control arm for adjusting the pressure between the container and the impression surface when the mandrel is in its printing position.

18. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers, a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate through a printing zone, a carrier, a mandrel pivotally mounted on said carrier, turret means mounted for rotation about the axis of said printing cylinder, means on said turret means for engaging and conveying said carrier through the printing zone in a :path concentric to the printing cylinder, resilient means on said carrier having operation to maintain said mandrel in a retracted position wherein it is spaced from said impression surface as the mandrel enters the printing zone, a control arm pivotally mounted on said carrier, cam means for actuating said control arm to thereby pivot said mandrel from the retracted position to a printing position wherein a container on said mandrel is pressed against said impression surface as the mandrel travels through the printing zone, and adjustable means carried by the control arm for regulating the pressure between the container and said impression surface.

19. In a machine for printing cylindrical containers, a printing cylinder having an impression surface adapted to rotate through a printing zone, a carrier, a mandrel pivotally mounted on said carrier, turret means mounted for rotation about the axis of said printing cylinder, means on said turret means for engaging and conveying the carrier through the printing zone in a path concentric to the printing cylinder, resilient means on said carrier having operation to bias the mandrel to a retracted position wherein it is spaced from the impression surface as it enters the printing zone, means including a control arm pivotally mounted on the carrier for pivoting the mandrel from said retracted position to a printing position wherein a container carried by said mandrel is pressed against the impression surface as the mandrel travels through the printing zone, and an adjustable screw carried by said control anm for adjusting the pressure between the container and the impression surface when the mandrel is in the printing zone.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,850 8/1943 Gladfelter et al 10140 2,764,933 10/1956 Hargrave 101-38 2,796,164 6/1957 Hakogi 10140 X 2,936,701 5/ 1960 Stuchbery 1014O ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

W. F. MCCARTHY, Examiner.

Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 96,085 involving Patent No. 3,279,300, E. K. Smith, .I. D. Alexander, C. F. Brundzwe and R. Foster, MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CYLINDRICAL ARTIC JLES, final judgment adverse to the patentees was rendered FebQG, 1970,:1st0 claim 1.

[Ofizcz'al Gazette July 7, 1.970.] 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR PRINTING CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS, A PRINTING CYLINDER HAVING AN IMPRESSION SURFACE ADAPTED TO ROTATE CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH A PRINTING ZONE, A PLURALITY OF CONTAINER CARRYING MANDREL ASSEMBLIES, TURRET MEANS FOR CONVEYING SAID MANDREL ASSEMBLIES THROUGH SAID PRINTING ZONE IN A PATH CONCENTRIC WITH SAID IMPRESSION SURFACE, SAID TURRET MEANS BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID PRINTING CYLINDER, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID TURRET MEANS CONTINUOUSLY IN THE SAME DIRECTION BUT AT A DIFFERENTIAL SPEED WITH RESPECT TO THE PRINTING CYLINDER. 